Identify that Plant

Here’s a plant which seems so easy to identify when walking in the woods — Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum).  Let’s look at this plant through a number of its life stages.  (Click on any photo to get a larger, easier-to-see-the-details view.)

Coming up in the spring

Developing flower buds (visible close to stem)

New flower buds along underside of stem (stem being held upright for photo purposes)

Flowers blooming

Flowers blooming (with rounded shape at base hinting at berry development)

Dying flowers with tiny stems remaining on left (from previous flowers)

Solomon's seal with green developing berries (hanging below stem)

Closer view of developing berries

Close-up view of Solomon's seal berries (still green)

Fully ripe Solomon's seal berries (dark blue-purple color)

Solomon's seal with fall coloration (yellow leaves)

Closer view of yellow leaves and stem (with tiny stems from missing berries)

For those of you interested in medicinal and/or edible plants, Solomon’s seal can be used both for food and for medicine.  Here’s an article outlining those uses.

Now, let’s turn to a “looks similar” plant — False Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum).  As you can see when you review the photos below of its life stages, the leaves look the same as Solomon’s seal.  The biggest difference — which makes for easy identification — is the fact that False Solomon’s seal has flowers at the end of its stem.  This is in contrast to Solomon’s seal which has flowers and berries along the underside of the stem.

False Solomon's seal plants coming up in the spring

False Solomon's seal group of plants in spring

Developing flower cluster at end of stem

Close-up view of developing flower cluster

Flowers getting ready to open

Flowers blooming on False Solomon's seal

Flowering group of False Solomon's seal plants

Flowers dying back and beginning process of making berries

Berries on the False Solomon's seal (golden color)

Two plants -- with berries from right plant resting on leaves of left plant (note empty berry stems on left plant)

Fall color of leaves and stem on False Solomon's seal

False Solomon’s seal has been used medicinally although it does not seem to be as well documented as Solomon’s seal.  The berries of False Solomon’s seal are reportedly edible and also are red according to some other sources.  I have not seen the red berries — probably because the wildlife eats them before they get to that stage.

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)

Probably the most commonly known and recognized member of the Nettle Family (Urticaceae) is stinging nettle (Urtica dioica).  Many folks know of its medicinal and edible qualities and enjoy foraging for it.  Stinging nettle can be found throughout North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa.

Wood nettle (Laportea canadensis)

Less well known is wood nettle (Laportea canadensis) which is native to the eastern half of North America.  It, too, is prized by foragers as food and medicine.

Clearweed (Pilea pumila)

The third plant to review in the nettle family is clearweed (Pilea pumila) — also found in eastern North America.  I have read that it is edible and people have foraged and eaten this plant — mistakenly thinking they were harvesting stinging nettle.

So let’s look at some commonalities and differences between these three plants.  (If you click on the images below, you will be taken to a larger view of each of them.)  All three plants are in the Nettle Family.  And each has been assigned to a different genus (Urtica, Laportea and Pilea).

When we look at the leaves we can see how very similar they are in shape.  Clearweed’s leaves are smooth and somewhat glossy while both stinging nettle and wood nettle have “rougher” looking leaves.

Clearweed

Stinging nettle

Wood nettle

As you can see in the wood nettle photo above (taken in early spring), the stems and underside of the leaves are covered with stinging hairs.   Stinging nettle has similar stinging hairs along its stems.

Stinging nettle

Clearweed does not have any stinging hairs at all.

Clearweed

Later in the year, the clearweed stem becomes more obviously translucent (“clear”) and flexible.

Clearweed

Since both stinging nettle and wood nettle look so much alike — and both protect themselves with stinging hairs — how can we tell these two plants apart?  The most obvious difference is the orientation of the leaves along the stems.  Stinging nettle’s leaves are opposite each other.

Stinging nettle

Wood nettle’s leaves alternate on the stem.

Wood nettle

9/3/12: Here’s a comparison with a fourth member of the nettle family.